Spirit Magic... Isn't This Exactly That?
Ariel's solution from her mouth was simple and clear-cut.
"That's right, a switcheroo. From what I've seen hanging around here, these so-called Earth-dimension S-rank items are just lying around everywhere by Ereinia continent standards."
I had no choice but to fully agree with her words.
Earth was just a dimension where modern science and physical technology had developed freakishly, but mana manipulation and magitech artifact forging were still in their infancy. Even S-rank gear treated as national strategic assets here might just be decent standard-issue equipment in a fantasy world with tens of thousands of years of magical history.
"Contractor, you can freely trade with those big shots on the Ereinia continent, right? Just show them the stats on that orb, and they'll fetch something similar in no time."
I stared at Ariel with a blank face.
"Oh... I thought you were just strumming that toy guitar and headbanging all day. When did you figure out my whole situation?"
At my admiring question, Ariel snorted and pushed her toy sunglasses up onto her forehead.
"Hah? Hey, you insolent contractor. I'm the great Wind Spirit King, you know? Sure, your power as contractor is pathetic right now, leaving me like this, but my authority doesn't change. Nothing can block the wind."
Oh, kinda cool, I thought.
"Ooh... I see. Fair enough. The guild master gave me a week, so I should arrange something with that method right away."
Hand over the fake Yeouiju to the government and guild master, and swallow the real one containing the Primal Dragon's arrangements myself. Sometimes, you need a little white lie.
This was probably the most rational and peaceful solution. Just get them something better-performing than this Yeouiju. If the fake outperforms the real one, it'll be real to them, right?
But asking Ereinia bigwigs for an item right now was a bit poorly timed. We'd just wrapped up the first major trade successfully, and they needed time to digest and research the Earth goods I'd given them before proposing the next deal.
The Tower Master was probably gathering his mages to tinker with that little lightbulb right now... The Royal Alchemist would be busy dumping reagents on plastic for tests. The Elf Elder might be ripping up every plant in the neighborhood to pair with ssamjang—who knows how many are poisonous... Eating plants takes time and lives. The Saint would be swamped purifying hundreds of thousands of liters of water. The Dwarf? Obviously throwing a beer party...
Hmm, nah, let's not. Gotta be fair.
Since the five had set fair trading rules from the start, secretly asking just one for a personal favor would tank my credibility. Besides, who cares. I've got Big Sis Jermad.
King God General, strongest red dragon in the universe. Jermad would definitely have some S-rank orb scraps rolling around her nest.
Just the power of that spear made from her own bone she'd tossed me last time showed her item's scale was on another level.
I sent the message, but no read receipt popped up.
'She said she was out chasing her master's traces—looks like she's pretty tied up. Hard to get in touch.'
With the generous week Baek Ha-yeon had given me, I could wait leisurely. The real issue was the sudden void in my schedule.
With the urgent fire out, I was left alone in the workshop, squirming from boredom.
"Aish, so boring?"
Boredom hit even in a world-ending crisis. Guess I wasn't cut out for sitting still.
What can I do...?
Compared to the fantasy quintet, I had little on my plate. The massive magic scrolls and elixirs from the Tower Master and Alchemist weren't usable yet. I'd already used the Saint's mental barrier blessing and confirmed the system message saying it had taken hold. The Dwarf items? Too risky to unleash fully yet...
Only one thing left.
"Hey, Ariel."
"What? I'm busy. Spit it out short and sweet."
Ariel answered peevishly while strumming her toy electric guitar. How does that even make sound...? Wind Spirit King perks?
"Thing is, I learned spirit magic, but stuck in the workshop, I've got no chance to test it in real combat."
"So, what do you want me to do about it?"
"Come out with me so I can try spirit magic. Like a walk."
Ariel shook her head firmly without a second's hesitation.
"No way. Today is a very important day to explore the origins of 1970s classic metal and ignite my soul. No time to play along with your games. I'm very very very busy."
Man, this Spirit King...
"Fine, unsummoning you then?"
Ariel shot back defiantly.
"Hah? Go ahead! With music and scents, I can return to this Earth anytime!"
"Doesn't crossing dimensions without contractor permission shrink you to ant-size?"
"So what? Even bug-sized, I can still listen to music and smell scents."
Agh, what to do with this basement rocker? I recalled the first page of the Elf Elder's spirit magic.
Elf Spirit Magic Lesson One: To make spirits heed requests, instill a sense of crisis—that what you want could vanish anytime. Make them anxious to obey the spirit user.
I gathered my thoughts and spoke.
"Listening to music is great and all, but what if I get into an accident and suddenly die? What happens to you then, Ariel?"
Her guitar tuning stopped dead at the out-of-left-field hypothetical.
"What grim nonsense is that? You're always holed up safe in this workshop chatting—why would you suddenly die?"
Oh yeah, I'm a basement community zombie too...?
"No, sure, right now it's peaceful, but it won't last forever. I'm a hunter, after all. What if there's a terrorist attack, sudden gate break, or a plane crashes into our guild building and I die? You'd lose your link to the middle realm and never return to this Earth dimension, right?"
Ariel's cute eyes visibly trembled.
"Th-that so?"
"Ah, this is bad. If I die, you lose music streaming and heavy metal right away. After I croak, will another spirit user worthy of summoning the great Ariel even appear in this dimension?"
Ariel cleared her throat and replied hastily.
"Ahem, th-that girl from a few days ago, Baek Ha-yeon who visited the workshop. She shows promise—works hard too. In a few decades, she could summon me. A mere instant."
Her survival strategy, but come on...
"Ah, the guild master? Even if she summons a Spirit King, seems like it'd be the Water Spirit King."
"What?!"
Ariel's voice pitched up. Mentioning her rival lit a fire.
"She succeeded with the medium summon you told her about last time? Water spirit."
Her tiny fists clenched at the rival king mention. Crisis and rivalry ignited.
"Hah! Can't have that!"
"See? Better if I stay alive, right?"
"......Tch."
Clicking her tongue? Heavy metal mattered more than my life right now. But it worked.
Finally, she dusted off her butt, stood, and asked with a resolute face.
"Fine, where to if we're going out?"
Heh heh, too cute.
After eons of boredom in the spirit realm, maybe? Strutting as the great Wind Spirit King, but inside, adorably petty and lovable. Like toying with a kid pretending to be grown-up.
"Fresh air after ages, crack a nearby gate or something. Gotta test spirit magic in real combat, boost survival, sync with you."
"Tch... Should've summoned me at full strength. First to call a Spirit King at your level."
"Think I wanted this? You came 'cause we click... Oh yeah, guild master seemed to understand you last time too?"
"Mimicking your language with air is easy."
Ah, neat trick...
"Anyway, get ready. Music hits different outside."
Her face lit up.
"Oh!? Good idea for a contractor."
"Music shines with nature, right? Especially heavy metal in guts-and-blood combat."
Like that old game, shotgun hell demons to metal beats.
"Yes, fun!!"
Elf Spirit Magic Lesson Two: Frame tasks as fun for the spirit.
'Training to save humanity by steadily growing stronger via gate clears' sounds dull and pretentious, but 'Monster massacre party with heavy metal!' gets the blood pumping.
"Slaying monsters to intense metal beats—you'll lose track of time!"
"Bet! Let's bet, contractor! Same song—who kills more on beat wins!"
Whoa, too effective?
I drove it home. Elf Spirit Magic Lesson Three: Offer solid rewards post-task.
For if the monster-bashing proves less fun than hyped—guaranteed reward keeps them happy.
"Deal! Lose, and I'll grab extra air fresheners at the convenience store!"
"Ooh! For real? Last one's fresh morning dew was great, but I crave something bolder, newer!"
"Got it. Three-set variety? If I lose the bet."
"Perfect!! Let's go, my lovely contractor!"
Spirit magic... feels like those pet training shows...
Eh, whatever. If it works.